TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Coffee Pot Fire has officially reached the northern fork of the Kaweah River and now spans the entire area between the North and South forks, spurring new evacuation orders and creating new ground for spot fires to ignite.
Per the California Interagency Incident Management Team (CIIMT), the Coffee Pot Fire was 11,625 acres large as of Monday morning, making it the fifth largest active wildfire in the state. Containment has grown to 13%, but spot fires erupting outside containment lines could threaten to dismantle progress.
Pilot car escorting vehicles out of Coffee Pot Fire
Fire officials say they identified a spot fire northwest of Case Mountain, but crews are actively working to contain its spread. Firefighters are also working to hold the containment line along the East Fork Kaweah River using aircraft low-intensity burning and water-drops.
CIIMT says a spot fire was also detected outside the Eden Creek Grove of giant sequoias on the eastern flank of the blaze, but crews were able to encircle it with direct control lines. Crews in this area are also continuing to construct indirect control lines north toward Horse Creek and Mineral King Road.
According to CIIMT, crews also worked to construct direct control lines around a spot fire south of the Monache Tub Grove of giant sequoias on the western flank of the fire using aircraft waterdrops. Crews are continuing to patrol direct control lines to ensure containment in this area.
The southern flank is the only area where no spotfires were reported. Officials say fire crews in this area are continuing to conduct mop-up activities along the South Fork Kaweah River containment line.
Evacuation notices:
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office has issued two new evacuation orders due to current fire conditions for Genasys zones TLC-E094-C (west of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park boundary, north of the East Fork Kaweah River, and east of Oak Grove) and TLC-E094-E (the Mineral King Road area, south of River Hill, east of Case Mountain, and west of Mitchell Ranch, including the Oak Grove community). Evacuation orders remain in effect for zones TLC-E094-D and TLC-E094-B.
The Tulare County Fire Department has also issued evacuation warnings for zones TLC-E093-A, TLC-E093-B, TLC-E095, TLC-E127-B, and TLC-E128-A. They also say due to fire conditions, there will be road closures along Mineral Kings Road, between Oak Grove and the National Park Boundary.
Smoke impacts:
Fire officials say westerly winds will shift the smoke impacts on Monday.
Springville and Pinehurst should see less smoke, averaging moderate, with periods of conditions that are unsafe for sensitive groups. Three Rivers will see some relief, although smoke settling in overnight will still likely reach unhealthy levels by the morning. Hammond and Mineral King will likely see slightly more smoke, with levels reaching very unhealthy at times. The Giant Forest will see unhealthy conditions this afternoon and evening.
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